Peace celebrations, Greymouth, July 1919.

DescriptionA family postcard coinciding with Greymouth's peace celebrations at the end of the First World War. As described by the author of the postcard, my great aunt Jessie Kells (nee Hill), the photo depicts the peace celebration precession held on Saturday 19 July 1919 which culminated at 12 noon at the band rotunda when located on Boundary Street Greymouth (where the roundabout is currently I understand).

As noted in my great aunt's written commerntary to her sister (my grandmother, Ethel McGregor (nee Hill)) she and her sister Mabel Hill also attended the "peace ball" that night, and the extensive newspaper article published in the Grey River Argus, 22 July 1919 confirms what they called a "Soldiers' Smoke Concert" was held in the Oddfellows' Hall for more than 200 people. For eligible young ladies in their twenties in 1919, no wonder Jessie refers to the event as "it was some style".

West Coast New Zealand History (22nd Dec 2018). Peace celebrations, Greymouth, July 1919.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 22nd Mar 2019 07:24, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24161